By Graeme Young

The former Croatia national team coach will join the Turkish side despite the fact they have been banned from Europe for a season on match-fixing charges

Slaven Bilic has agreed to replace Samet Aybaba as Besiktas boss after signing a three-year deal with the Super Lig club.

The former Croatia boss was sacked last week after just one season in charge of Lokomotiv Moscow, with the Russian outfit finishing in a lowly-ninth position in their domestic league under his guidance, but the 44-year-old has wasted little time in returning to the dugout.

Bilic rose to prominence after guiding his talented Croatia side to the Euro 2008 quarter-finals in Austria and Switzerland, as well as a group stage appearance four years later in Poland and Ukraine.

The news will breathe fresh life into the Istanbul club after they were handed a one-year ban from Uefa competition on Tuesday following match-fixing charges, meaning they will miss out on playing Europa League football next season.

Fenerbahce, Besiktas’ Super Lig rivals, were also implicated in the scandal and have been barred from Europe for the next two seasons.